Happy International Women’s Day! In today’s trending news stories;
1. A significant abduction occurred on Thursday, March 7th, at Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State, where over 200 pupils and teachers were kidnapped by bandits, sparking national outrage. Various organizations including the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Amnesty International, and the Nigeria Union of Teachers condemned the attack and urged the government to swiftly rescue the victims. The incident happened amidst escalating insecurity, with this being the second such incident in the region in a short span. Governor Uba Sani assured the community of efforts to rescue the abducted individuals. Witnesses reported the harrowing experience, with bandits wielding weapons and forcing victims into the forest.
2. As the world celebrates women, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed concern about the inadequate investment in women’s capacity in Nigeria which has hindered progress toward achieving the fifth agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims to end all forms of discrimination against females globally. Bamidele highlighted the under-representation of women in both corporate and public sectors, citing statistics of out-of-school children and early marriages among girls. He emphasized the importance of gender equality for sustainable development and acknowledged the National Assembly’s commitment to promoting women’s inclusion in governance. Additionally, the National Human Rights Commission called on federal lawmakers to urgently pass the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill to eliminate discrimination against women and ensure equal opportunities for all genders.
4. Francis Ngannou weighed in over 20lbs heavier than Anthony Joshua for their heavyweight showdown in Saudi Arabia. Ngannou tipped the scales at 272.6 lbs, while Joshua weighed 252.4 lbs. The face-off saw both fighters in remarkable shape, with Ngannou’s Cameroonian supporters adding to the atmosphere with vuvuzela horns. Joshua, accompanied by Rocky Balboa theme music, engaged in an intense stare-down with Ngannou. Ngannou, known for his prowess in MMA, expressed confidence in his ability to win despite being the underdog in boxing. Joshua maintained his calm demeanor, promising to deliver in the ring. The event also featured Zhilei Zhang weighing in significantly heavier than Joseph Parker. The fight is scheduled for Friday, March 8, with the main event expected around 11 pm and available on Sky Sports Box Office.
5. Lionel Messi once again proved crucial for Inter Miami, as he scored a vital goal in the 51st minute against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16. With an assist from Luis Suárez, Messi’s goal narrowed the deficit to 2-1. Later, Suárez scored a stoppage-time goal, securing a 2-2 draw for Miami. This marks Messi’s fourth goal of the season and his third in two consecutive matches. After scoring, Messi celebrated with teammates including Sergio Busquets, Federico Redondo, and Julian Gressel, before sharing a hug with Suárez and offering a prayer.
6. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, playing for Marseille, became the top scorer in the combined history of the Europa League and UEFA Cup after scoring against Villarreal in the last-16 match. His penalty kick marked his 32nd goal in the competition, surpassing Henrik Larsson. Despite playing for Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Barcelona, and now Marseille, Aubameyang has not won the tournament yet.
7. On March 7th, 2024, many Nollywood actors and celebrities paid tribute to Veteran Nigerian actor Pete Edochie as he celebrated his 77th birthday. May Yul-Edochie, the former spouse of Yul Edochie, expressed heartfelt birthday wishes to her ex-father-in-law, Nollywood icon Pete Edochie, on Instagram. She sang a beautiful birthday song and praised him in Igbo. May celebrated Pete’s 77th birthday as a significant milestone and wished him graceful aging. Her tribute garnered admiration, particularly from Rita Edochie, who expressed boundless affection. Other users praised May’s sincerity, intelligence, and beauty. Yul Edochie also celebrated his father’s birthday, describing him as the “most handsome 77-year-old man” and wishing him many more blessed years.
